CHAPTER 150

(GIDEON)

"Just say that again".

Arash is on the phone informing me that the Chicago sentencing is due to take place next week, but he has also just dropped another major bombshell which I can't quite get my head around.

I really can't believe what Arash is telling me, and I need to hear him say it again to make sure I am not hearing things. I look at Eva who is watching me closely. The Greys have all returned to Seattle, we saw them off about an hour ago. Thinking back to that farewell I recall that Carrick had a self-satisfied smug expression on his face as he shook my hand and said that he would see me again when we went to Seattle for the trial, so I am fairly sure he was aware of this unbelievable development. I know he has been helping Arash and they disappeared after the surprise lunch I organised only to reappear in time for the flight back to the west coast.

Nothing else had been said and yet I had a feeling something was going on the way Arash and Carrick were whispering throughout lunch.

Arash lets out a small chuckle and repeats what he has just told me. "Bev Martin found Phil's burner phone and she has handed it over to the Seattle police… she knew he had it as it was the one he used for all his drugs activities with Barnett, and she allegedly has been looking for it since he was arrested and she claims she has only now finally found it".

"That's what I thought you said… a little convenient don't you think that she should find it now just as her husband has capitulated and changed his plea and there is only the Seattle trial to deal with?" I ask with obvious cynicism. "What has she done, what has she wiped from it before she handed it over to us?" I add.

I hear Arash sigh, "That is a good point that she should suddenly find it now… but in her defence she handed it over claiming that she had been searching for it ever since and she also claims she hasn't opened it as she didn't know the password. I will also add that, that claim was verified by the guy who got in to it to pull the evidence. He confirmed that the last time it had been used was around the time of Peter and Suzanne's deaths. We have it all now and you wouldn't believe what we've got though. When we got it, it was a fucking treasure trove of information and it has everything we need to nail him. Not only is the text correspondence which backs up Barnett's version of events still on the phone, because unlike Barnett he didn't wipe the phone of the texts after sending them but the idiot also used the phone to detail and keep a record of all his plans, there is an entire record of everything… internet search history, maps, timetables and notes detailing not only everything to do with William and Angela's murder but also Peter and Suzanne's. Peter Martin's schedule and even photographs of Peter and Suzanne's home. Every last fucking thing we need! We have every last bit of his warped plans from everything that he has confessed to with the Chicago murder, along with his correspondence afterwards with Barnett where he lays into him saying that he wasn't supposed to kill his brother and explaining that now he had, he'd had to kill his sister-in-law and that the plan had changed. Then there is correspondence and details of how he was going to kill Jared to claim his inheritance. The text messages where he asked Barnett for the drugs, the drugs which Jared witnessed being handed over. It's all there including how Barnett initially refused to supply him as he already owed him money, but you wouldn't believe the response Martin gives him. He actually boasts that if he does this, he will be able to pay off everything he owes with interest when Jared dies and he gets his inheritance. Those are his actual words, he really wrote that in a text about his own nephew. Then there are details of how much of the drugs he needed to overdose him, it's all there in black and white... it was quite chilling really seeing his plans in such detail in form of his internet searches and the like. The correspondence is like the narration of the stuff on his phone explaining the plans he had. You also see the point where you came into the picture and how that all panned out and how he realised he could revert back to his original plan of kidnapping Jared instead. There are numerous internet searches on you and what you are worth".

"But why would he text Barnett? I mean why on earth didn't he just call him – its far less incriminating" I say.

I hear Arash sigh, "We'd already asked Barnett that as he'd previously told us everything was done via text. Barnett said Philip Martin didn't like to call as he rarely had any credit on the burner phone to do so, whereas texting was free. But he was also paranoid about being overheard". I let out a snort at that considering what we now have and how incriminating it all is and I say as much to Arash who agrees.

"Yeah, I know ironic really. Barnett agreed to Martin's requests but he saw the flaw in this and how it could be catastrophic if the phone fell into the wrong hands so he was smart and regularly wiped his burner phone deleting and resetting the phone back to factory settings to wipe it clean so there was no trace of his involvement from his end, but that backfired on him somewhat when he confessed and made the deal as there was no physical evidence available to back up his story… but now there is, and it is literally all as Barnett said it was, every last word. That guy may have been a drugs dealer but until William Martin's death he wasn't a cold-blooded killer and you have to remember that he never intended to kill William Martin at all".

"But he slaughtered Peter and Suzanne Martin in cold blood" I say.

There is a silence and Arash sighs again, "Yeah I know but that was because Philip Martin told him that he wanted no lose ends. He didn't want anyone else in the frame to inherit any money and Peter and Suzanne were officially Jared's guardians by that point, so they would be the next in line for Jared's money rather than Philip Martin. Barnett realised that if he wanted to get all the money he was owed by Philip Martin he had to kill them, even though he didn't want to which I think is the reason he has been so co-operative as he was coerced into participating to get the money he was owed… not that it excuses his actions of course, but it gives more insight as to why he co-operated so fully because Philip Martin owed him a shit load". Arash pauses a moment before he continues, and his voice turns even more serious, "You should also know… From the records on the phone, Philip Martin's final plan was not only to kidnap Jared, to extort money from you for his safe return but when you had paid up he would then kill Jared anyway and receive Jared's inheritance from William Martin".

A long silence spreads out between us as I take all that in, "We need to nail that fucker" I say coldly.

"And now we will" Arash replies confidently, "Our circumstantial case is now water tight" he adds.

I hang up and quickly outline this turn of events to Eva who stares at me in shock.

"Are you going to tell Jared?" she asks and I nod.

"Of course I am, this is good news it has made our case stronger. I was worried that there could've been enough reasonable doubt before as to Philip Martin's involvement, enough that a good lawyer would be able to convince the jury of his innocence. Arash said Carrick Grey is working on getting the phone evidence admitted as it is so late in the day, Carrick assures me that they are as eager as we are to put Philip Martin away for this, so I'm fairly certain there won't be any problems especially considering the seriousness of the crimes involved and the obvious greed motivated callousness of Philip Martin. Obviously, his defence team will be strenuously arguing against that but Carrick is confident there won't be any issues".

"So, when will the trial take place?" Eva asks.

I shrug, "It's still not decided. However, Arash also informed me that the Chicago sentencing is happening next week so with that in mind I am hoping it happens fairly soon afterwards – for Jared's sake so he can finally get the closure he deserves and begin to move on".

I look at Eva closely she is listening and asking intelligent questions and making good points but she also seems distracted by something and I know immediately something else is bothering her, she has been a bit off ever since this afternoon. At first I thought it was the fact Ana and El were going home. She was overjoyed at seeing El and Meg again albeit for such a short amount of time and having Ana and Christian here as well but then having to say goodbye to them all is always a bitter sweet thing for my Angel.

I reach across and grip her hand, "What's wrong? Something is bothering you Angel? Is it the trial?" I ask carefully.

Eva squeezes my hand and shakes her head, "No, I…" she stops and shakes her head again.

"Angel, tell me what's bothering you, now" I demand a little more harshly than I meant to.

Eva comes round and sits herself in my lap, I immediately encircle her with my arms and wait for her to tell me.

"Mom" she says simply.

"Monica?" I reply and I realise immediately what the problem is, "Oh you mean the comments she made about Jared calling you mom?" I ask.

Eva nods and then rests her head against mine.

"I will call Caroline and ask her about organising something for you and your mom… and your dad, as I think this needs to be put to bed once and for all. There has been an undercurrent of resentment ever since you found out about Frank" I say.

Eva pulls away from me a little and looks at me incredulously.

"Understandably so!" she argues a little defensively and I smile.

"I'm not saying you shouldn't feel the way you do Angel; I'm just saying it was a massive thing which has quite naturally affected your relationship with your mom".

I feel Eva relax and she nods in agreement, "I know I made things worse when Ana and I went public without giving her a heads up about it and yes, I admit that was partly because I wanted her to hurt as I had been hurt finding out about my dad and Frank… things haven't been right since then. Even though Ana stepped in and smoothed things over initially there is still the resentment and distance there… I also think dad feels some resentment too which I totally get I mean he was lied to as well as me" Eva says.

I can tell this is something which is still eating at her, despite all the progress that has been made since that bombshell was dropped there is still a wound that needs healing. I think about everything that has happened since then and how that very fundamental action which started the chain of events which has shaped everyone's lives this year has almost been dismissed as irelevent with everything else that happened and evolved as a result of it and I decide there and then that it ends now and I reach for my phone to call Caroline.

oooOOOooo

(JARED)

I sigh as I throw down my pen, shut my notepad and then after reading through the finished draft of the homework assignment I've been working on, I save it and close it down. I hesitate a moment before calling up something which is just as important but in a different way. My victim statement for the Chicago sentencing hearing for Uncle Phil. I have it written in draft but I'm hoping dad will read through it to see if he thinks it's ok as well. I send it to print and as I hear my printer whirring to life, my phone dings informing me that I've had a text come through, I open it to discover yet another text from Uncle Patrick. I snort, I've heard more from him in the past month than I have in my entire life up to this point and once again it appears it is only to ask questions about dad, under the guise of being concerned about my welfare. I shake my head and decide enough is enough, he clearly isn't interested in me really and is just sniffing around because of dad and his wealth so looking at my phone I make the decision to block his number.

As I do so there is a knock on my bedroom door and dad pokes his head round it.

"Can I come in?" he asks warily and I nod, throwing my phone on my desk.

"Have you finished your homework?" dad asks glancing at my laptop.

I nod, "Yeah, all done… I was just putting together my victim statement for the Chicago sentencing… have you heard anything about that yet?" I ask.

I notice that Eva has slipped into the room and I am reminded about what I overheard her mom say as I was leaving earlier and I shuffle uncomfortably as I don't want to cause any trouble between Eva and her mom.

"Do you want me look to through it?" dad asks carefully pointing at my laptop and I nod again.

"If you wouldn't mind" I reply gratefully.

Dad sits down on my bed, and leaning forward clasps his hands in front of him.

"Arash has called me, we have a date for the Chicago sentencing" he says.

"Oh?" I ask sitting a little straighter at this news.

Dad nods, "Yes, it's next week… next Thursday to be precise" he says.

"Ok, I'd better get this finished then" I say looking at my laptop once more.

"Jared there is something else I need to tell you" dad continues.

I turn back to face him and give him my full attention as it is clearly something important by the tone of his voice.

I wait for him to continue, looking at him questioningly.

"Your aunt… Beverley, she has found a phone your uncle used for his drugs activities with Jerry Barnett. She has handed it over and we've now got access to its contents. Arash assures me that what we have makes our Seattle case far stronger. There are text conversations which completely back up the version of events which Barnett testified to, along with a whole host of corroborating evidence in the form of photographs, notes and internet searches. Arash assures me it confirms his participation and involvement in the death of your aunt and uncle and helps to eliminate any reasonable doubt his lawyer could've played upon had we not had this information".

I lean back surprised by that, "So… it makes our case better?" I say hopefully and dad nods.

"It does, Carrick is working on getting what we now have admitted as evidence which Arash assures me won't be an issue. You should know that… that… Arash has discovered evidence on the phone which suggests he… Philip Martin, was still intent on killing you. It appears that the plan was to kill your aunt and uncle so there were no loose ends, or other candidates for your inheritance and Barnett was to take you. I was to be informed of your kidnap and the plan was that when I paid the ransom you would then be killed rather than released so that Philip Martin would be able to claim your inheritance from your father".

I let out a long breath at that and stand up, I put my hands on my head and turn away as I take all this in. The sheer greed and lengths he went to just for money, it also makes me think about Uncle Patrick and his sudden interest in me, he's not on the same level – thank goodness but he clearly is of the same mindset as Uncle Phil and motivated by money rather than people.

"Jared?" dad says carefully.

I turn and see both dad and Eva watching me carefully.

I clear my throat, "I'm fine" I say, I look at my phone and pick it up.

"I… I… erm… I got a text from Uncle Patrick. It appears he is another one motivated by money… more importantly your money dad. He text me asking questions about you again. I could be wrong, and it could just be concern for my well-being but after the fact he basically disowned me and said I was better off with you when he didn't know who you were and the fact that he has only kept trying to get in touch since that thing with Corrine in Central Park where it was broadcast to the world that you are my dad I would say it is more financially motivated rather than any concern for my well-being," I say.

"Do you want me to get Arash to get him to stop?" dad asks immediately and I shake my head.

"No, it's fine I think I've sorted it. I've blocked his phone number now so he can't call or text me again. Hopefully that will sort it as I doubt he would fly across the country to personally seek me out" I say with a shrug.

Eva steps forward and engulfs me in a hug.

"I'm sure you will be glad when all this is over" she says kindly and I wrap my arms around her accepting her genuine affection.

"Yeah, I will… I mean mom and dad and Uncle Pete and Aunty Suzy… it hurts… it really hurts but I can think about them now and talk about them without crying… just about… but… I still feel really guilty about the fact they died… not so much dad because I've accepted the fact dad was shot by accident, you could see that in the footage, but mom, Uncle Pete and Aunty Suzy they were all murdered in cold blood… all because of me".

Eva shakes her head and grips me tighter, "No Jared it wasn't your fault, never think that. It was not because of you. They were killed purely because your uncle was a greedy selfish bastard. They were his siblings, but to him they were nothing, an inconvenience who got in his way and had to be eliminated. You are not to blame for any of it Jared, do you understand me? It was all him, and hopefully he will get what he deserves".

I sigh as Eva's words reassure me. I know logically she is right. I have talked at length about this with Caroline and she believes these feelings of guilt will lessen after the trial but it is a process I have to work through.

I pull away from Eva and look at her closely, "I need to speak to you about something as well" I say.

Eva tips her head to one side and looks at me questioningly, "OK?" she asks.

"I… I heard what your mom said earlier… I didn't mean to do anything inappropriate and…" I begin but Eva immediately holds up her hand to stop me.

"Just stop, hold it right there Jared. Let's just get this straight, and listen carefully because I am only saying this once and I expect you to listen and believe it - I am proud and honoured that you feel comfortable calling me mom. I love the fact you look upon me as a maternal figure for you and I really hope I can fulfil that role for you. That stupid comment my mom made was nothing whatsoever to do with you Jared. Mom is still sore with me over everything that happened between us when it all came out about Frank being my dad and the way I punished her for it by going public without telling her, it's all caused a rift between us so now she takes every possible opportunity to have a dig about something and today it was that. I'm sorry you heard that, and it wasn't fair of her to do or say that as the problem she has with me is nothing whatsoever to do with you. But please believe me when I say that truly was mom just bating me because things still aren't great between us so don't give it another thought" she says firmly.

I nod relieved that I haven't caused trouble between Eva and her mom.

"Perhaps… perhaps you could talk with Caroline about it?" I offer and Eva smiles.

"Way ahead of you, my dad suggested the exact same thing and Gideon has arranged for us all to have a session to try and hash things out" she says.